One-third of Britons believe flu is just a heavy cold, but every year thousands of people die from complications following flu.
Colds and flu share some of the same symptoms (sneezing, coughing, sore throat) but are caused by different viruses. Flu can be much more serious than a cold.
If you're generally fit and healthy, you can usually manage the symptoms of a cold or flu yourself without seeing a doctor. Look after yourself by resting, drinking non-alcoholic fluids to avoid dehydration, and avoiding strenuous activity. Painkillers (such as ibuprofen or paracetamol) can relieve aches and pains.
Some people need to take extra care as they're more at risk of serious chest complications, such as pneumonia and bronchitis. People over 65 are more at risk of complications. People under 65, including children, are more at risk of complications if they have:
- serious heart or chest complaints, including asthma,
- serious kidney or liver disease,
- diabetes,
- lowered immunity due to disease or treatment, or
- had a stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA).
Everyone in an at-risk group is eligible for a free flu vaccination. This is the best protection against the virus. Around four million people under 65 in England are in one of these high-risk categories, but only 45% of them had the flu jab in 2007.
Symptoms
There are around 200 viruses that cause colds and three that cause flu. There are many strains of these flu viruses, and the vaccine changes every year to protect against the most common ones.
Symptoms of a cold include:
- runny nose, beginning with clear mucus that develops into thicker, green mucus as the cold progresses,
- blocked nose,
- sore throat,
- sneezing, and
- cough.
People with a cold can also suffer with a mild fever, earache, tiredness and headache. Symptoms develop over one or two days and gradually get better after a few days. Some colds can last for up to two weeks.
According to the Common Cold Centre in Cardiff, a cold is most contagious during the early stages when the person has a runny nose and sore throat.
Flu usually comes on much more quickly than a cold, and symptoms include:
- sudden fever of 38–40°C (100–104°F),
- muscle aches and pains,
- sweating,
- feeling exhausted and needing to lie down,
- dry, chesty cough, and
- sneezing.
Flu symptoms appear one to three days after infection and most people recover within a week, although you may feel tired for longer. A severe cold can also cause muscle aches and fever, so it can be hard to tell the difference.
Whether it’s a cold or flu, get medical help if you have a chronic condition (such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease), or if you have a very high fever as well as an unusually severe headache or abdominal or chest pain.
Stop the viruses spreading
Cold and flu viruses are spread by droplets that are sneezed or coughed out by an infected person. Other people can breathe in these droplets or transfer the droplets to their eyes or nose on their fingers.
Protect yourself and others against colds and flu by:
- coughing or sneezing into a tissue,
- throwing a used tissue away as soon as possible,
- washing your hands as soon as possible, and
- having a flu jab every year if you're in an at-risk group.
For more information on colds, flu and the flu jab, see the Useful links on the right.
